Commencement Exercises for German-jewish Youth

June 28, 1933

The prediction that a Hohenzollern would eventually be restored to the throne of the Kaisers was made by James W. Gerard, former Ambassador to Germany, and the principal speaker at a special service held Monday evening at Temple Emanu-El as commencement exercises for the Jewish youth of Germany who are no longer permitted to graduate there.

“I think,” said Mr. Gerard, “that you will find a return to the monarchy when President von Hindenburg becomes mentally or physically enfeebled or passes away. The Hohenzollerns will come back and then the persecution of the Jews will end.

“Hitler made use of anti-Jewish prejudice in his march towards power; he played on the emotions of his followers and made a scapegoat of the Jewish race and religion. But it can’t continue. There can be no expectation of peace in the world, when you see things happening as they are in Germany today.”

A baccalaureate sermon was delivered by Rabbi A. Habas of the Central Synagogue of this city, and messages of sympathy were read from Governor Herbert H. Lehman, Dr. Mary H. Woolley, president of Mount Holyoke College; Dr. Frank Aydelotte, president of Swarthmore College; Dr. Frederick B. Robinson, president of the College of the City of New York, and Dr. W. A. Neilson, president of Smith College.

In his message, Governor Lehman said, “You young men and women who are participating in this affair are guaranteed by our free institutions the privilege of carrying on your studies. The young men and women in Germany, however, of the same age and conditions as you, are unfortunately denied even the privilege of an education under present conditions. The injustice of this situation must appeal strongly to you.”